Music you've never heard….'til now! A blog of rare, hardly-heard or remembered pop, hip-hop, R&B, freestyle and dance music from the 80s and 90s. From one-hit wonders to no-hit wonders, this blog has it all!!

Saturday, March 21, 2009

Rainy Davis (born Denise Lorraine Davis in Brooklyn, New York) is a singer, songwriter and music producer who was successful in the 80s.

Rainy sang with a local band called Jamila (which featured future hit R&B singer, Keith Sweat). She later joined a female singing group called, Musique who scored a few moderate dance hits.

Rainy's claim to fame was her first single, "Sweetheart." She originally wrote the song for Janet Jackson, hoping to submit in time for her 1986 album, "Control," but didn't make it. Instead, she recorded the song herself.

The song peaked at #42 on Billboard's Hot Dance Music\Club Play chart and #24 on Billboard's Hot Black Singles chart, staying on the chart for 19 weeks.

During that same year, Rainy released her debut album, "Sweetheart" on Columbia Records, which managed to peak at #61 on Billboard's R&B Albums chart.

Her follow-up single, "Lowdown So & So" peaked at #9 on Billboard's Hot Dance Music\Club Play chart and #14 on Billboard's Hot Black Singles chart, staying on the chart for 13 weeks.

The last single from the album, "Still Waiting" (which was written by Prince), peaked at #41 on Billboard's Hot Black Singles chart, staying on the chart for 9 weeks.

In 1988, Rainy released her sophomore album, "Ouch!" which didn't appear to make the Billboard charts at all.

The first single from the album, "Indian Giver" peaked at #16 on Billboard's Hot Dance Music\Club Play chart and #41 on Billboard's Hot Black Singles chart, staying on the chart for 9 weeks.

The title song was released as a single, but it is unknown how or if the single ever made the Billboard charts. Since then, Rainy has worked with numerous artists including Keith Sweat, Shannon, Fonda Rae, The Cover Girls, and Ollie Brown.

In 1998, Mariah Carey and Jermaine Dupri covered Rainy's song "Sweetheart" which was featured on Jermaine's 1998 solo album, "Life in 1472." Their version of the song earned them a Grammy nomination.

These days, Rainy is the CEO and founder of a new production company turned label called Rainysongs Entertainment that was founded in 2005. The business started releasing products in 2007.

Friday, March 20, 2009

Giggles (born Maria Respeto in Brooklyn, New York) is a freestyle\dance musician from the 80's and 90's. She attended and graduated from South Shore High School where she received her musical training.

In 1987, she released her first single, "Love Letter" on Cutting Records, which peaked at #21 on Billboard's Hot Dance Music\Maxi-Singles Sales chart and playing on various New York radio stations. The success of the song gave Giggles the chance to perform in clubs in the West Coast and New York.

In 1988, Giggles released her second single, "Hot Spot" which peaked at #28 on Billboard's Hot Dance Music\Maxi-Singles Sales chart and #48 on Billboard's Hot Dance Music\Club Play chart in December of 1988.

In 1992, she released her debut and only album, "He Loves Me...He Loves Me Not" which didn't appear to make the Billboard charts.

Giggles scored her only pop hit with the single, "What Goes Around Comes Around" which peaked at #47 on the Billboard Hot 100 in April of 1992 and #18 on Billboard's Hot Dance Music\Maxi-Singles Sales chart.

Tiana (born on May 2, 1967 in Vermont) was a female freestyle\dance singer from the 90's.

Not much information is given on this singer, but from what I could tell she's had a moderately successful music career, but didn't get the mainstream success she deserved.In 1990, Tiana released her self-titled debut album on MicMac Records. It's unknown how or if the album ever made the charts.

Her first single, "First True Love" peaked at #81 on the Billboard Hot 100 in August of 1990 and #15 on Billboard's Hot Dance Music\Maxi-Singles Sales chart.

The follow-up singles "Come to Me" and "Tell Me Why" didn't appear to make much impact on the charts at all.

In 1991, she released the single, "My Love is Free" which didn't appear to make the charts at all either.

After that, it seemed as if Tiana had faded into obscurity, but these days, she is a part of the "Freestyle Invasion Live" tour with other freestyle musicians.

Portrait were an R&B quartet from the 90s that originally consisted of Eric Kirkland & Michael Saulsberry (from Los Angeles, California), Irving Washington III (from Providence, Rhode Island) and Phillip Johnson (from Tulsa, Oklahoma).In 1992, the group released their self-titled debut album which peaked at #70 on the Billboard 200, #16 on Billboard's R&B Albums chart, and #2 on Billboard's Heatseekers chart.Their first single, "Here We Go Again!" peaked at #11 on the Billboard Hot 100, topped Billboard's Rhythmic Top 40 chart, #11 on Billboard's Hot Dance Music/Maxi-Singles Sales chart, and #3 on Billboard's Hot R&B Singles chart, staying on the chart for 30 weeks.

The song also peaked at #37 on the U.K. Singles chart. Portrait even appeared in an episode of "Family Matters" performing the song.

The second single from the album, "Honey Dip" peaked at #102 on Billboard's Bubbling Under Hot 100 Singles chart and #18 on Billboard's Hot R&B Singles chart, staying on the chart for 20 weeks.

The last single, "Day By Day" peaked at #42 on Billboard's Hot R&B Singles chart, staying on the chart for 10 weeks.

Portrait was featured on the "Addams Family Values" movie soundtrack with the song, "Be Thankful For What You Got" which managed to peak at #59 on Billboard's Hot R&B Singles chart, staying on the chart for 7 weeks.

In 1995, Portrait released their sophomore album, "All That Matters" which peaked at #131 on the Billboard 200 chart and #26 on Billboard's R&B Albums chart.

During that same year, Phillip Johnson was replaced by Kurt Jackson (from Aurora, Colorado).

The first single, "I Can Call You" peaked at #119 on Billboard's Bubbling Under Hot 100 Singles chart, #32 on Billboard's Hot Dance Music\Maxi-Singles Sales chart, and #22 on Billboard's Hot R&B Singles chart, staying on the chart for 15 weeks. In the U.K., the song peaked at #61 on the U.K. Singles chart.

The follow-up single, a cover version of the Bee Gees' hit song, "How Deep is Your Love" peaked at #93 on the Billboard Hot 100 and #51 on Billboard's Hot R&B Singles chart, staying on the chart for 9 weeks. The song also peaked at #41 on the U.K. Singles chart.

Portrait was featured in the Black Men United song, "U Will Know" on the "Jason's Lyric" movie soundtrack.

They also appeared on the movie soundtrack, "Blankman." They were also featured on the Quincy Jones single, "Slow Jam" with Babyface and Tamia.

In 1996, Portrait released their third album, "Picturesque" that was released only in Asia. It's unknown how or if the album was successful. After that, the group had seemed to have faded into obscurity.

In 2005, Portrait briefly resurfaced with their fourth album, "Share My Love" which they independently released.

Michael Saulsberry is a songwriter, producer and composer. He also works as a phlebotomy technician. It is unknown what the other members of Portrait are up to today.

Tia (born Tia Bocker) is a former pop\dance singer from the late 80s. At the age of 18, she was spotted dancing at a club in Merrick, Long Island, New York by DJ Jim "Chopper" Cohn's wife, Kathy. Chopper and Kathy later approached her to become a part of their entertainment company.

In 1986, Tia scored a minor dance hit with the single, "Boy Toy" which peaked at #97 on the Billboard Hot 100, #16 on Billboard Hot Dance Music/Club Play chart, and #32 on Billboard's Hot Dance Music/Maxi-Singles Sales chart.

The second single, a cover version of Alisha's "Baby Talk" was released, but it's unknown how or if it made the chart.

Tia recorded a full album entitled "Sugar 'N Spice," but due to the flop of her third single, "Cupid," the album was never released.

In 1992, Tia released the single, "Dance to the Music" which didn't appear to make much impact on the charts. After that, it seemed as if Tia faded into obscurity.

In 2010, Tia's unreleased album was released in Europe under the title "Absolutely." The album contains mixes of "Boy Toy," "Baby Talk," "Cupid," and a few other unreleased tracks. It is available on iTunes and Amazon.com.

These days, Tia has now switched to rock music. She was a member of a band called BlueScream and is currently a member of New Jersey rock band, Sinsanity.

Linear was a 90's pop\freestyle group from Miami, Florida that consisted of lead singer Charlie Pennachio & percussionist Joey Restivo from New York and guitarist Wyatt Pauley from Ecuador.

In 1990, the group released their self-titled debut album which peaked at #52 on the Billboard 200 chart on Atlantic Records.

The first single from the album, "Sending All My Love" became Linear's biggest hit to date, peaking at #5 on the Billboard Hot 100 in May of 1990 and #8 on Billboard's Hot Dance Music\Maxi-Singles chart. The song was certified Gold by the RIAA.

The follow-up single from the album, "Don't You Come Cryin" peaked at #70 on the Billboard Hot 100 in July of 1990.

The last single released from the album, "Something Going On" failed to make the Billboard charts at all.

In 1992, Linear released their sophomore album, "Caught in the Middle" which failed to make the Billboard album charts.

The only single to chart was "T.L.C." which peaked at #30 on the Billboard Hot 100 in June of 1992.

A promo single, "Smile if You Like Sex" was released, but failed to make the charts at all. After that, it seems as if Linear had faded into obscurity.

These days, Charlie Pennachio appears to be active in the music business, producing & writing music for various artists.